The Fruits of Our Labours Crossing the Atlantic

The FCS crew on Challenger 2 are sailing to St Lucia in the ARC Rally, racing against many boats, but mainly Challenger 1. We’re expecting regular blogs from the crew and the skipper although this one is just from the mate, presumably everyone else is busy eating fruit…

Day 4 Wednesday 22 Nov 2017

Late afternoon and early evening yesterday brought light Swly breeze around 12 knots. Shortly before sunset this veered as expected and increased to around 20 knots.

At watch change we took the chance to change to Y1 and S/S. This made for a much safer but not necessarily more comfortable nights sailing. Boat speed has been good, averaging over 7 knots and where helming was settled regularly achieving high 8s, low 9s.

Early Days: Challenger 2 (brown) is a short neck ahead of Challenger 1

Challenger 2 continues to behave herself with the exception of the Mast head B&G Unit. When conditions allow i will get up there and have another go at finding the problem.

Crew are all in good sprints, eager to learn and participating in all parts of life onboard. We have appointed a “studies coordinator” who will be responsible for working out what people are interesting in learning and arranging classes.

These starting in the coming days after the midday meetings. Our final seasickness sufferer has found his appetite again.

Food standard remains high. Fruit eating rate will need to improve before force feeding begins to make use of it all before it spoils.

Kind regards
Gary Rutherford, Mate, Challenger 2

Fresh off the Boat, the Crew Blog

(This came in after the blog above was posted)

Day 4 of the race is taking place in beautiful sunshine – some sailing the boat, others sleeping, while another two mothers (Julian and Arne) have for the day been sentenced to confined spaces inside the boat – cooking & cleaning, but their motto ‘we live to serve’ makes everything possible!

The most advanced fishing techniques in the Northern hemisphere of Planet Earth have been employed and widely admired by thousands of Atlantic fish – but their motto seems to be ‘look but don’t touch’. L

Alan still holds the top helming speed at 11,8 knots but last 24 hours Joe 9,5 knots in the middle of the Atlantic night were a sign of his seaman’s abilities and of the starboard watch support for this feat!!! To note that the night offered wind speeds of 20 knots going upwind – hard work on a fully sailed vessel. Everybody has been helming both day and night!

Today saw lonely seabirds and one single sailboat on the far horizon.

Relaxing sailing during the day with cards, music and wonderful cake, generously supplied from Alan’s mom, Madeleine J
“Happy birthday” from Michael to his brother.

Arnie and Julian

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Posted by: First Class Sailing